Incredible, isn’t it? Three months ago, the idea of AIM having its very
own website was just a vision; a goal. Today, not only has it been installed
but it now serves as the respository of literary compositions and news items
about the Membership. In short, AIM has joined the global village. Ilonggos
worldwide, know more about the Ilonggos in metropolitan Washington, DC and
have now the opportunity to see us up close.

This adage can aptly be applied to all those who’ve demonstrated their
loyal and active support to AIM. Madamu guid nga salamat kay Drs. Elmo and
Offie Gayoso who readily put up $75 as an incentive or prize for whoever can
submit an eye-catching, meaningful name for the Newsletter. Nestor Camina’s
entry, "Budyong," had the Membership’s resounding approval.
Without as much as batting an eyelash, he, in turn donated the $75 to the
Association! How’s that, for boundless generosity?

Yes, we have a notion of what "budyong" is, but, do we really
know its role in the lives of our ancestors?

One day, while I was surfing the web, I happened to come across a
website, "Tambayan." Curiosity got the better of me and before I
knew it, I was scrolling down the different topics, stumbling over a rare
find, er… "friend." Lorna Montilla, (an Ilongga, whose parentage
– Gelvezon hails from Guimbal) is Tambayan’s in-house historian. She
lost no time in furnishing me with the history of "budyong," for
which I am deeply grateful. Here’s what she wrote:

The budyong is a shellhorn used to
sound off a warning or an
important event in the village. An artist is usually hired to do this. Since
Moslem piracy and maraudings were rampant before the Spaniards came, a
lampitaw
was employed to stand watch on the highest hill, roof or tree to see what
was going around -- especially on the sea. It was also used to announce the
birth
of a child, especially a son to a member of the nobility. (Firecrackers,
since then, have replaced the budyong.) It was also used to announce festive
occasions such as
the arrival of royalty or the death of its members. Bells and sirens have
replaced the budyong, but, in Iloilo it is still used to announce the
Dinagyang fest and in Antique, the Binirayan festival.